Change of meds | ADHD Information

I know getting the right meds is often a very trying process.  My son has been taking 10mg of Ritalin generic twice a day and may as well have been taking sweets.

Today, the doctor switched him to Ritalin LA 20mg once a day. 

I do so hope this has a better effect.  I balked at the price difference as the costs are out of my pocket.  But if it will help ds achieve at school, I will find the money somehow!!

We had the same problem with Concerta.  My son has been on Adderall XR for the last 2 years, has only had to increase it once and it's been wonderful - a real noticable difference.To me all supplements and meds should be ER. puts as needed in the body. I wish they were all sublingual though. Melt away version. Well, this did confuse and concern me - that there actually was no 'real' change. 

The methylphenidate that ds was taking twice a day had absolutely no effect on him whatsoever.  All it did was make him grouchy.

The doc said that this generic (called methylphenidate) didn't always work but that the actual Ritalin would.  Both contain methylphenidate so what is the difference anyway?  I was hoping for a different med altogether.  (He suggested Strattera but I simply cannot afford it).

I don't understand the implications or difference between long-acting and short-acting?

I have had ds on Ritalin LA for 2 days now and I have to say that he is a tiny bit subdued and doesn't really want to eat.  Other than that, he is his normal impulsive, talkative, stuttering, jumping, cheeky, grouchy, bored, inattentive self.  It will be interesting to see what his teacher thinks next week.

Thanks for the input.




My personal opinion is that you ought to question the doctor until you get a good solid answer. 

and my peeve is - why the hell dont they give you samples when the do stuff like this.  Gods know that there's enough drug samples stockpiled in the office somewhere.  they shouldnt be allowed to save the drug samples for their personal friends.  they are there for this reason!!

again - I say - question the doctor till you get answers....real answers, not just "because it will".  THEY work for YOU....not the other way around.  if the doctor wont give you the answer you require, ask him  or her where you can find more information about the drug.

You can also go to the book store and pick up an NDR (nurses drug reference) and look up the drugs.  If you dont have medical training, it might not all make sense, but most of the stuff in the NDR is in pretty plain terms.

*I did medical transcription for a while and have some basic medical and drug knowledge*

H
Yeah, AmyLee, I'd be quizzing the doctor too.

My understanding is that long-acting medications are simply a different way to deliver the same med. So if it's methylphenidate, it's methylphenidate, whether short- or long-acting.

My understanding of Ritalin LA in particular is that it delivers 50% of the dose right away and 50% about 4 hours later. Very similar to giving two doses of short-acting.

OTOH, sometimes the delivery method does seem to make a difference. My DS could not tolerate Concerta, which is also a long-acting methylphendidate med. Something about the way it hit his system in the afternoon just wasn't good, even at the very smallest dose. Ritalin LA is fine.

Good luck quizzing the doc.

AmyLee -- what was the reason for the med change?

I ask because my understanding is that Ritalin LA 20 mg. is almost exactly the same as taking 2 10-mg. doses of short-acting Ritalin twice a day. If it wasn't working in the short-acting, is there a reason the doctor thinks it will work better this way?

My DS (age 7) takes the 20 mg. LA. Works well for him, but so did the short-acting.

How is it going?